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Welcome to Plastic-Free Challenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Plastic-Free Challenge expert in no time!

Hennepin County | Ramsey County | Washington County
Plastic-Free Challenge
February 1 - February 28, 2025
Mitch Vanyo's avatar

Mitch Vanyo

Niron Magnetics

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 783 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.3
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    48
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    23
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill

Mitch's actions

Community

DITCH DISPOSABLES AT YOUR PARTY

I will avoid using disposables, such as balloons, table covers and single-use favors as well as disposable plates, cups and utensils for special occasions.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Plan a Garden

I will plan an herb or vegetable garden for next year at my home, workplace, or community garden.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Support a Sharing Economy

I will support the sharing economy by joining a community tool exchange, toy library, or buy nothing group.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

On-the-go

Use A Reusable Mug or Cup

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own collapsible cup.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Get Organics Bins at Church

Church already buys compostable products (cups, napkins, silverware), but doesn't have any bins for organics recycling. I will prevent compostable cups from going to landfill and increase awareness for Hennepin county's organics collection service.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Pick Up Plastic Litter

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of plastic litter each day and dispose of it responsibly.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

  • Mitch Vanyo's avatar
    Mitch Vanyo 2/27/2025 7:21 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    Picking up trash on walks has been pretty satisfying! I am already wearing gloves for the cold, so if I carry a plastic grocery bag with me (or better yet, find one on the ground), it is super easy and rewarding to pick up whatever trash is near the sidewalk. There is far more than I can pick up in a given day, so the bag filling up provides a built-in stopping point. (Then I empty out the bag and use it again the next day!)
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    How did you decorate for your party? How will you use these decorations again?
    Mitch Vanyo's avatar
    Mitch Vanyo 2/26/2025 9:22 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    No party decorations - kept it simple with just the permanent art/decor of the house, plus food and music.

    (This winter, my roommate made a table centerpiece out of a few boughs and pinecones he collected. Not reusable, but compostable!)
    Read More
    • Sarah Marotz 's avatar
      Sarah Marotz 2/26/2025 4:22 PM
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      Agree Mitch! Most parties don't need extra decorations. Once in a while it is expected though. I hosted my son's high school graduation party last spring and only purchased paper or compostable decorations and serving items, rented cloth tablecovers. They looked nice and held up well.
      Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    On-the-go
    Great job on getting rid of your disposable cup habit! How does it make you feel? Are there any situations where you still struggle to use a reusable mug?
    Mitch Vanyo's avatar
    Mitch Vanyo 2/25/2025 7:27 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    A lot of places use reusable mugs for "for here" orders, but not all, so sometimes I am handed a disposable cup before I even realize it. I haven't started asking ahead of time when visiting new coffee shops, but that would be a simple solution!
    Read More
    • Krina Damien's avatar
      Krina Damien 2/25/2025 7:36 AM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      The most frustrating for me is when I watch them make my beverage in a disposable cup anyway and then transfer it into my reusable mug and toss the other cup. I want to shout THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE!!! But most of the time places don't do that :)
      Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
    Mitch Vanyo's avatar
    Mitch Vanyo 2/18/2025 7:34 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    Picking up litter requires slowing down and being observant about the local environment. It has tied in well to my own experiment of walking to work! (It is pretty easy to bend over and pick something up while already walking past it)
    Read More
    • Dustin Pelikan's avatar
      Dustin Pelikan 2/25/2025 6:11 AM
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      way to go Mitch! This is such a feel good activity and has a long lasting effect on mother nature.
      Read More